Creating Your First Resolver Instance

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll create and test your first resolver instance in Vidos. You'll learn how to configure the resolver, test DID resolution, and manage its operational state. By the end, you'll have a working resolver instance that can resolve Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) for your applications.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • A Vidos account with appropriate permissions
  • Basic familiarity with DIDs (Decentralized Identifiers)
  • Access to the Vidos dashboard

Step 1: Access the Resolver Management Area

The Vidos dashboard is your central hub for managing all resolver functionality.

  1. Log in to your Vidos account
  2. Navigate to the Resolvers section in the left sidebar
  3. You'll see the resolver management page where you can view existing instances or create new ones

Step 2: Create a New Resolver Instance

Now you'll create your first resolver instance that will handle DID resolution for your applications.

  1. On the resolvers page, click the Add button in the top-right corner
  2. In the creation form, enter a descriptive name for your resolver (e.g., "My-First-Resolver" or "App-Testing-Resolver")
  3. Optionally configure the following settings (the default configuration works for most cases):
    • DID Methods: Select which DID methods to enable (e.g., did:web, did:key)
    • CORS Settings: Enable if your application will make browser-based requests
  4. Click Save to create your instance

Step 3: Examine the Resolver Configuration

After creating your resolver, explore its configuration to understand how it's set up.

  1. On the resolver list, click on the name of the resolver you just created
  2. The instance details page will open
  3. Scroll down to the Compiled Configuration section
  4. Examine the configuration JSON, which shows:
    • Enabled DID methods
    • CORS settings
    • Other resolver parameters
TIP

The compiled configuration combines three sources: default configuration, inline configuration, and any predefined configurations you've applied. You don't need to modify this directly—use the UI controls instead.

Step 4: Test DID Resolution

Now it's time to test your resolver by resolving a DID.

  1. On the instance details page, select the Diagnose tab
  2. You'll see a test form with a sample DID already entered
  3. Click Resolve to test the resolver with this DID
  4. Examine the resolution result, which should show the DID Document if successful
  5. Try resolving different DIDs by entering them in the input field and clicking Resolve again
NOTE

DID resolution results include a DID Document containing verification methods, services, and other identity information associated with the identifier.

Step 5: Control Resolver Instance State

Learn how to control the operational state of your resolver instance.

  1. Return to the instance details page
  2. Notice the Stop button at the top of the page
  3. Click Stop to temporarily disable the resolver
  4. Try resolving a DID again using the diagnostic tool—you should see an error response
  5. Click the Start button to reactivate the resolver
  6. Test DID resolution again to confirm it's working properly
CAUTION

When a resolver is stopped, all resolution requests will fail. Only stop resolvers during maintenance windows or when they're not being used by production applications.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during this tutorial, check the following:

  • Resolution Errors: Verify that the DID you're trying to resolve is valid and follows the correct format
  • Access Issues: Ensure your account has the necessary permissions to create and manage resolvers
  • CORS Problems: If integrating with a web application, confirm CORS settings are properly configured

What You've Learned

Congratulations! You've successfully:

  • Created a Vidos Universal Resolver instance
  • Explored its configuration
  • Tested DID resolution
  • Managed the resolver's operational state

Next Steps

To continue your journey with Vidos resolvers: